The Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast
What are Coastal Dune Lakes ? A body of water located in or on sand hills and dunes along the coastline of Scenic 30a . Walton County Flordia has 15 dune lakes to explore.
Coastal Dune Lakes
About the Lakes Coastal Dune Lake Outfalls Watch the Video documentary by Elam and Nick Stolzfus
Walton County Florida is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. These lakes are a unique geographical feature and are only found in Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, and here in Walton County 30A .
Our coastal dune lakes share an intermittent connection with the Gulf of Mexico. The lake water is fed by streams, groundwater seepage, rain, and storm surge. The connection with the Gulf, called an outfall, is a flood control and pours lake water into the Gulf as needed.
Salt water and organisms flow back into the lake, depending on tides and weather. Each lake’s outfall and chemistry is different. Water conditions between lakes can vary greatly, from completely fresh to significantly saline.
Protecting the Lakes
Walton County has an aggressive program to protect our coastal dune lakes. The Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board meets to discuss the county’s efforts to preserve the lakes and publicize the unique biological systems the lakes provide.
Walton County currently partners with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance to regularly monitor the water quality of the Coastal Dune Lakes. The data is used by Walton County, as well as state and federal agencies, to manage and regulate the lakes.
What restrictions are there for development located within the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone?
Please refer to the Homeowner’s Guide for a quick reference or 4.02.06 (B) of the Land Development Code for complete and updated information.
*No more than 40% of lot shall be impervious surface and clearing of the native vegetation shall not exceed 50% of the portion o fthe parcel that is within the 300-foot CDLPZ.
*For lots adjacent to Coastal Dune Lakes: Requiring all new development, and redevelopment that requires a modification, replacement or upgrade to an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system to connect to central sewer at the time of development or redevelopment. For other lots within the CDLPZ, new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systember shall be prohibited where connection to sewer is available. If central sewer is not available, septic tanks and drainfields must be at least 100 feet from the ordinary or mean high water line.
*Seawalls, bulkheads, revetments and rip-rap are not allowed.
*No new point or non-point sources of pollution shall be discharged into the lakes – no treated wastewater or untreated stormwater runoff.
*No construction or disturbance will be allowed in the natural outlet from a coastal dune lake.
